You get used to peeing into cups at prenatal checks. Your doctor will be looking for glucose (sugar). You may see some glucose in your urine. However, if you notice it frequently or in large quantities, this could indicate high blood sugar, also known as gestational diabetic.
A study revealed that the rates of gestational diabetics increased among pregnant women of all races from 2011 to 2019. It’s important to understand what causes gestational diabetes and how you can prevent it.
What you need to Know about Gestational Diabetes, including Risk Factors, Screening, Treatment and Prevention.
What are the risks factors for gestational Diabetes?
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommends that pregnant women receive a screening test for gestational diabetic between 24 and 28 week of pregnancy. During your first check-ups, your doctor may also discuss risk factors.
You’ll likely do the screening earlier if you have several risk factors, or if you notice a high level of glucose in urine during your early prenatal appointments.
Jeff Chapa , MD, a specialist in maternal-fetal medicine, says: “We recommend screening for people with risk factors of gestational diabetics earlier in pregnancy, usually during the first trimester.”
If you have:
- Are older than 35 years old?
- A BMI of more than 30.
- Do you have a family history of Type 2 Diabetes?
- Previous baby weighed over 9 pounds.
- Previous pregnancy with gestational diabetic.
The screening process
You will be asked by your doctor to complete a test known as the or oral glucose tolerance test. What happens?
- You will quickly drink a liquid sweetened with 50 grams of sugar. This glucose is absorbed quickly by your body, causing your blood sugar to rise.
- You will be asked to give blood an hour after you have consumed the liquid. This test will measure how your body is metabolizing the glucose solution.
- If you have a high glucose level in your blood, you will likely need to do a longer and similar test. You’ll also be required to fast beforehand (not eat any food). This test involves drinking a liquid containing 100 grams of sugar. Your blood sugar level will be tested before the glucose is consumed and then every hour for 3 hours afterwards. You will be diagnosed with gestational diabetic if this test results in abnormalities.
Dr. Chapa advises that if you are screened at an early stage and the results are normal, then you should be screened again between 24 and 28 weeks, when insulin resistance due to placental hormones reaches its peak.
The Placenta connects you with your baby and feeds it while it grows. The placenta produces hormones that can work against insulin produced by your body. This “insulin resistance” increases as the placenta develops.
Reduce your risk of gestational Diabetes
It’s not a guarantee. About half of women who develop gestational diabetics have no risk factors.
Salena Zanotti MD , Ob/Gyn says that many people believe they are immune to gestational diabetics because there is no family history and a healthy body weight. The hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can cause gestational diabetics. It is important to make people aware of lifestyle changes they can implement before becoming pregnant.
She recommends adopting healthy habits not only during pregnancy but also before, after and in between.
- Increase your physical activity:Walking, swimming, yoga, and other low impact exercises are usually the best. Speak to your doctor for advice on the best activities for you.
- Be careful what you eat. Your doctor or nutritionist can assist you in making healthier food choices. Aim to consume less sugar and refined carbs (such as white bread, rice, pasta etc.). Add more fiber to your daily diet (such as raw fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts).
“Both these things can make an enormous difference,” notes Dr. Zanotti, “but adopting healthy habits before getting pregnant makes the most difference.”
What are the risks associated with gestational diabetic?
Both you and your child can be affected by gestational diabetes.
Dr. Chapa says that when your body can’t produce enough insulin, excess glucose is left in your blood. Your baby then receives more sugar in his or her body than they need, which gets stored as fat.
The following are possible outcomes:
- A higher chance of having a Cesarean Delivery also called a C-section.
- An increased risk of Preeclampsia – a serious condition affecting blood pressure.
- Probability of having a baby that is larger than average ( macrosomia).
- Risk of neonatal and fetal death is slightly higher.
Dr. Chapa says that babies born to mothers who have diabetes should be monitored for blood sugar levels after birth. Low blood sugars in babies born to mothers with diabetes can cause seizures and other problems.
What happens if gestational Diabetes develops?
Your doctor will closely monitor you throughout your pregnancy if you are diagnosed with gestational diabetic. However, you can still deliver a healthy child if you practice good habits.
“Don’t be alarmed or worried,” Dr. Zanotti assures. Your provider will help manage the situation so that you and your child are both as healthy as you can be.
To ensure stable blood sugar levels:
- Be vigilant: Your provider will tell you what your target blood sugar level is and how to monitor it regularly.
- Be careful with your diet. A gestational diabetic diet plan is a great way to prevent pregnancy complications and birth complications. It is important to limit carbs and sugars, and focus on eating lean proteins.
- Exercise regularly. There’s a variety of ways you can exercise while pregnant. It has been proven that this can help reduce pregnancy-related diseases, such as gestational diabetic.
Dr. Zanotti says that if you diagnose gestational diabetic early, most patients can control the condition with diet and physical activity. For a small number of people, these things may not work by themselves, and medication can help.
After you’ve given birth
Your doctor will check your blood sugar level during this time. This is because gestational diabetics are at increased risk for:
- High blood pressure
- Cardiovascular disease
- Type 2 diabetes
About 10% of women with gestational diabetics have Type 2 Diabetes and don’t know it. In 10 years, half of those with gestational type 2 diabetes will develop Type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Zanotti stresses that it is important for your doctor to keep a close eye on your blood sugar levels and for you, the patient, to do your best to manage your health. Being as healthy as possible will help reduce your risk.
